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Before you watch this I have to add that Ike and I are old friends so the argument about Josh Conklin and how Pitt has played so far (one-sided as I was sort of excited) isn’t anything to worry about. Ike knows his stuff – we just differ 180° on certain issues.

Q: This is a young defense, do you think you guys are going to kind of progress as the season goes along just as you gain more knowledge?

A: “I do. I think Pat [Narduzzi] said it best today. He said he doesn’t wanna hear about how young we are all the time…

Good – neither do I. We have players who are in their 3rd year under Narduzzi and Conklin now and that’s long enough to be in his defensive ‘system’ to play well. As we talked about in the Roundtable above – is it the lack of talent onboard or the lack of coaching? My point is that we

ve heard Pitt fans sing Narduzzi’s praises when it comes to recruit “better” 3* players so then it must be coaching. Which I firmly believe it is. Hence my feelings about Conklin – he’s the boss of the defense and as such the boss of all the position coaches on the defensive side of the ball. If those coaches are not getting the players to execute properly – and they haven’t for over two years now, then the problem rests on Conklin’s shoulders.

I think Pitt fans don’t sometimes get the whole of what the Coordinator actually does… but this is why he’s called the “coordinator” – because he coordinates all the aspects of the defense and then formulates systems and tactics to fit the HC’s defensive vision by developing and executing individual game plans… but it is the non-gameday coordination that is the majority of his job. Most fans I talk to think the DC does only the game planning part and that is really but a small piece of it.

The DC is ‘in charge of managing all defensive players and assistant coaches, of developing a general defensive game plan, and of calling the plays for the defense during the game’. For instance it isn’t the DC who determines which players are going to be in the two deep or who is going to play on defense during each games – that is the individual position coach’s job – Conklin’s work is a level above all that. He has final approval but seldom overturns his positon coaches.

But he’s still responsible for all the aspects of the defense so when that defense tanks, as we have seen dramatically at Pitt, he’s responsible.

Pat Narduzzi does tell Conklin what general defense he wants the team to have – that is the real ‘big picture’ stuff – but Narduzzi isn’t nearly involved with our actual defense as fans think. In reality he’s very hands off if what we hear from the Southside is to be believed.

Here is a Starkey piece about… I’m not sure but you can read it yourself… It is pretty much filler between games. I hated this quote when it was first uttered and hate it now…

It was Dr. Randy Juhl — a key member of the committee that hired Narduzzi — who put it so memorably after Narduzzi’s introductory news conference. Building on the fact that Pitt folks invented CPR and revolutionized organ transplantation, Juhl said, “If the university can do that, we can sure as hell win 10 football games.”

You’d think.

Surprised we don’t just throw Salk and his Polio vaccine in there and while we are at it toss in Gene Kelly. Of course the reasons Pitt made those great strides mentioned was 1) because they are life and death issues and 2) not only was the University 100% behind those efforts, the whole of the nation benefited from that essential work – and that is also why Pitt is still concentrating on academic and research issues that are 1000 times more important than football is. The BoT wants it that way and will keep it that way.

Bottom line folks: The powers-who-be (and were) at Pitt are content to have an average D1 football program because well, every major school has to have one or be labelled an outsider… but that’s really all they want. Status Quo without any negative issues associated with it is fine. Win more than lose and don’t rock the boat…give Pitt that and they will be happy forever.

Anyway – right now is kind of a tough time for our program and team – we just had two straight losses where we were badly outplayed in almost all aspects of the game and narrowly avoided a third loss in the opener against YSU when that game went into overtime. But I believe this season is far from over and still might, might mind you, be a surprise at the end of the season. By that I mean either win the same amount (not betting on that) or lose just one or two more… I do not see a collapse of the team into a tanked season.

But I’m reading Pitt fans calling for Narduzzi’s head after this last loss and them saying the ‘season is over’ and the kids stink – one fan on a message board even said he thought the players had given up on the season – that post was quickly deleted by the author but still – how weird is that?

Well, I’m not giving up on the players or Narduzzi at this point and won’t even if the season goes south. I’ve already given up on Conklin but that happened over the offseason. I think if our defense is going to play better and actually help win a game for a change it will be 100% on individual defensive player efforts – the kids making timely sacks and creating turnovers – things that a DC really has no control over.

But isn’t all this why we are Pitt fans guys? Because with Pitt there is always something interesting happening and it is never, ever boring. Stomach churning – yes; boring – no.

We have a tough game ahead of us this Saturday and we’ll see how that goes, but even if we lose that one, and we may well as GT is a great running team, we still have eight more to win on the schedule… HTP!!

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Reed Kohberger
Retired Coast Guard Officer with a lot of time on his hands and working a hobby that he enjoys and is actually free - writing.... on all different sorts of things but mostly Pitt football. You can see my more public articles and essays at WWW.pittblather.com, reedkohberger.wordpress.com and the new Pitt football blog www.pittpov.com.

I believe recruiting is a bigger issue than the defensive coordinator. I don’t see where this staff is bringing in the type of talent that is required to compete at an acceptable level.
A look at the quarterback position is a illustration of this.. While the grad student transfers have done the job where are the recruits?
If any of them were D1 ready they would be playing, we keep hearing that the next great one is the latest recruit, but where are they.
You need young dynamic coaches pounding the pavement for kids that can compete. This situation reminds me of the last few years of Dixon, lack of recruits=decline in program. There are enough positive points at Pitt to do this! In both sports and if the current coaching stafsf can not do the job, blow them up and hire new people that can.

You (and I) soured on Conklin during last year not after the season, let’s be honest. I don’t expect the team to go south. For all HCPN’s faults he hasn’t lost a team yet. In Majors 2 I did see the players tank, their last game at Pitt Stadium was a disgrace. When a team tanks they as well as the coaches own that. I still want Conklin canned but I still maintain PN won’t do it during the season the way the major programs do. After the season JC should be canned as well as RH. Unfortunately PN will not change to a zone which is easier on the player’s and their development and this is due to his stubbornness.
On offense it will be Max or Ben according to PN this week in a short statement, excepting injury. I hope they play Ben, not because he is a star, but Pickett will need a backup next year. Finally, you are spot on to the BOT, only disgruntled alums with big bucks dissatisfied with losing will change that.

Jimbo we got a QB on the roster now and hopefully one coming in next year that may change your mind at that position. But it would appear the HC and OC want to go with ineffective experience before they take a chance at using a freshman. Four more losses over the next month might have both of them scratching their head about that decision however.

I remain steadfast …. it is very little about the scheme but much more about the schedule and the players

1) in Conklin’s first year (2015), Pitt finished 38 in total defense out of 128 teams

2) as we are well aware, Pitt generally must rely on 4th and 5th year players for its success. For example, Pitt’s offense last year was loaded with 4 and 5 year players. In fact, virtually every Pitt player who was drafted last year as well as everyone who signed on as a free agent were 4 or 5 years players … except for Price (6 years)

3) the only 4 or 5 year player on defense right now is Maddox. The only other players with any substantial experience is Idowu (walk-on), Briggs and Edwards. That’s it.

4) which is a direct cause-effect of the lack of defensive players brought into this program in 2013 and 2014. … who would be in their 4th or 5th year right now.

I continue to understand your basic contention. I still don’t agree with it. I believe you may have contradicted yourself.

Pitt ranked #114 in the FBS in total defense in 2016. Last year Pitt’s defense had 9 4-5 year seniors in Jarrett, Soto, Price, Galambos, Bradley/Caprara, Webb, Mitchell and Lewis as starters. It also had juniors Blair and Maddox who had both played since they were freshmen. These guys weren’t total bums. Price (Rams), Bradley (Ravens) and Lewis (Patriots) made NFL rosters. Jarrett and Galambos made NFL practice squads. The Steelers had Webb and the Broncos had Soto in camp until final cuts.

Pitt has thus far played essentially the same schedule as 2016. YSU is a slightly better FCS team than Villanova. PSU and OSU have many of the same offensive players. Pitt is currently ranked #108 in total defense. Narduzzi dismissed Taleni and Blair who would both be experienced seniors. Maddox still plays. Briggs still plays. Idowu may have been a walk-on. He’s now a scholarship player and was 3rd on the team last year in tackles.

If GT runs all over Pitt this weekend even with 3-year starter Jordan Whitehead, as I believe that they will, it has to be time to start looking at the coordinator.

As to the QBs IMO I think the problems goes back to Wanny’s belief that a QB only hands of the ball to an RB, something he admitted after Pitt that he didn’t do so well on in college or pros. He brought in no competition for his number one QB and those that did come knew they weren’t going to start. This left a huge void which is slowly changing. Don’t expect Sam Darnold’s at this point. After this year no more Transfer QBs, develop your own. That is why getting BN playing time is important to having a capable backup, gotta bring in 1 decent QB per year.

Well, at the same time there was no rule that said Pitt couldn’t have recruited a 2nd QB in 2014 or 2015 either. The bald fact is that QBs transfer more than any other position in college ball so I said at the time it might not be a bad idea to double up back in ’15.

As you can see we really were pretty bad that year in the individual categories of defense listed especially on the Passing Defense areas where we were 54th in yardage and 66th in Pass Efficiency defense…

And it has just gotten worse from there. I don’t think I have ever seen this type of slide in any aspect of Pitt football over the course of 2+ seasons.

No adaptability, no surprises, little defensive success.
Again,
Gundy: 579 yards through the air last year, and we’re even better chucking the rock this year.
HCPN: oh yeah, just watch us stuff the run.

You ever have a group of buddies that you can argue with (debate an issue) and feel like it’s just talk? That’s what Reed and I have. Reed, you do a fantastic job with this POV and I thank you for your efforts.

Now back to Conklin. Here’s a list of reasons Conklin hasn’t been let go and BTW, I never said I liked the guy just said he shouldn’t be fired mid-season.
Deslin Alexandre
Dontavious Butler
Keyshon Camp
AJ Davis
Jerry Drake jr
Malik Henderson
Damarri Mathis
Albert Tucker
Rasheed Weaver
Cameron Bright

These kids were recruited in Conklin’s designated recruiting area (Florida) before C Partridge arrived. Bright is from Alabama. If you notice all but one (AJ Davis) are defensive recruits and some are very highly regarded. Yea, those kids wanted to play for Josh Conklin. So I guess I’m saying the coach isn’t completely worthless. Let’s let these kids grow up and see how it all unfolds.

People think Narduzzi is stubborn (i agree) just because he doesn’t do what the armchair QB’s think he should. I still think PITT is on the right track and we all know this season could be rough, especially the first 4 games. Now that it has happened, people are shocked! . . . . . . .ke

wwb makes a good point. When the voters vote and place teams in an order from the best down they take many things into account. One of the most important criteria is competition. Who did they play? Well PITT has played very stiff competition the past two years and we fans don’t want to recognize that fact.

That’s why I say I look at how the game was played and against whom. Although PITT really stunk out the joint to a team trying to move up in the standings. OSU was in town on business not here for fun! . . . . ike

Rough, Ike?
We squeaked by Youngstown and could have given up over a hundred points last weekend had Gundy not applied the brakes.
Rough?
That’s the high grass in golf.
That’s my face when I haven’t shaved.
Last week was a beat down, and a continuation of the downward spiral.
You can call it inexperienced players, I call it SOP

Pitt’s going to do okay this weekend. They will have a chance to win. Pitt’s O will get 300 yards in the air and 175 on the ground. GT has an average D at best. Question is, can we slow down the triple option (and especially Marshall the QB) enough?

If Pitt hadn’t beaten PSU and Clemson last year the doom and gloom would be more appropriate. After the last 3 games I’d say serious concern about all aspects of the program would be the more accurate description of Pitt’s situation. The past three weeks have certainly rocked my perception that the program was strong. It has me questioning whether PN is the Real Desl. But there is a lot of truth in what Ike says as well. We are just going to have to let it play out. And one more thing: If Browne starts in my opinion I will have a little less confidence in PN. Now if Browne starts and he is able to effectively lead the team then I will give credit to PN – a lot of credit because it will mean that he saw what was not to be seen.

I didn’t know anyone here who didn’t predict a bad September due to the fact that we would have an inexperienced team facing some heavyweight opponents. No doubt that OSU was a lot uglier than expected but we had 9 new starters against the most experienced QB and WR, not to mention a RB and 2 other WRs who will most likely be playing in the NFL … and couple that with the fact that our offense offered no help at all in the first half.

I mean this wholeheartedly … I am more disappointed by our offense than I am by our defense.

I don’t know if we have a good DC or not, but I do know we have a bad defensive scheme for the team we have. This defense requires high end DBs and DLs which we do not have. Thinking that a new DC will change this is like thinking that a new bus driver will make a bus with a faulty engine run any better than the old bus driver. The problem is the bus (defensive scheme) not the driver (DC).

Saturday determines the season IMO..lose and I am afraid this young team ,with no real on-field leaders, continues the tailspin never gaining solid traction. Hope, I am wrong. Thought we could go anywhere from 8-5 to 5-7. Now I hope for 5 wins, growing as a team each week, being competitive and looking like a team that wants to engage the enemy. Doesn’t appear to be heading in that direction at this pint in the season.

Yes, people predicted a one and two start but no one predicted that we’d go into overtime against YSU, lose by 19 points to Penn State and be down 49 zip to OSU at one point in the game. I don’t think anyone predicted that we’d be this bad after three games and season… let’s be realistic here.

Looking at how we played in the last three games and putting any sort of positive spin on it is the very definition of putting lipstick on a pig.

Shades of 2014 – I remember as the season started, every televised game there was always talk of how young the team was, how many freshman and underclassmen were starting. I bet however most were on the offensive side of the ball then as opposed to today, where they have little experience on the defensive side.
Then – I think the underclassmen on offense on a whole were more talented than the underclassmen on defense now.
Then – Offense took a while to mature and start to look decent, I believe the same will be true of the defense now. They will grow and learn by being abused by the opponents (much to our dismay), by the end they will be battle tested and starting to show signs of improvement.
Offense now? We don’t have a starting QB who can will the offense to produce on a level anywhere near 2016. Which QB is the best choice? I really can’t say as neither has much time to show what they can do (in a game). 2 or 3 quarters worth of play to determine who is the better mediocre QB isn’t sufficent. The O-line needs talent or better coaching.
No need to declare Rome as burning, just keep grinding and see if the team can eek out more win than losses. No doubt about this one, this is a rebuilding year for sure.
The coaches better be spending all their free time in Florida and New Jersey high schools, unless they want this cycle to repeat itself in 3 years.

Many predicted 1-3 at this point but nobody saw how exactly we’d get to this point. Needless to say, I’m very disappointed and I’ll back off my 7 win prediction. We arent going to a bowl this year so no worries that we’ll lose another one. I truly thought the D would have turned the corner this year. I fully expected the offense to take a step back but didnt expect this far of a drop. Worse than SOP given expectations.

It still comes back to recruiting. Please tell me why the recruiting is so bad. When these assistant coaches are hired the media says what good recruiters they are. That stat on defensive 4 stars is quite indicative of the problem.

Yet, despite the fact that Chryst was an offensive guru, he surrounded himself with Rudolph, Engram, Hueber, Robinson and even had a QB coach (Bollinger)

We all predicted that this would bite Pitt in the a$$ back then. Then compare 2014 when Pitt played only one ranked team and 6 teams which ended with losing records with the quaity of teams Pitt played in the last two years.

You people can continue to blame everything on scheme …. I beg to differ

Pete, I’ll bet you a dollar right now that if there isn’t a Pitt fan there no one will mention an OCS. Another dollar says that if the IS a Pitt fan there and asks about an OCS he gets shot down in 2.43 seconds. Which is how long it took both Gallagher and Lyke to answer that question when they were asked.

BTW Texas Panther – Re: “Reed – That was a BoT 15 years ago with an infamous AD and Chancellor that didnt literally know the rules for football. To say it will NEVER happen is just plain ignorant.

The last Chancellor is the one I discussed this with, many times actually – not one from 15 years ago.

I guess i’ll be the first to predict a bad October if we make no changes at QB from the two designated and we stick with the same defensive scheme. I’ll give us one more win in September and one win in October. I’ll hold my prediction for November until after our 3 and 6 record sinks in with Narduzzi.

BigB,
Let me know if that tailgate pans out at GT.
Also, concerning Penn State. It’s still too early to know for sure but it appears that the “The Big” conference is WAY overrated and that PSU is not as good as people think, at least that is my “eye test.” Time will tell.

wwb, you are exactly right. It takes players to win, and Pitt doesn’t have enough of them. With this young team, Pitt will eventually climb into the mediocrity area (8-9 wins) in a year or two and we will all be fooled once again. The QB spot will turn over and we will be breaking a new one in. It’s always something. There should be a few Freshmen and Sophomore stars emerging each year so that when they are Seniors the leadership is there to do good things. I really don’t think it is money that is holding recruiting down, but something is definitely wrong. Half full stadiums should be offset by things like a great city, NFL development, Steeler relationship, etc. Narduzzi has to know by now that the fuse is burning if he has another crapper year…

Pittman, go and see an eye doctor. …and have a great time in hot Atlanta. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. 🙂

BigieB. Yeah forbidden. << That does sound intriguing doesn’t it?

VOR, above I listed a good group of Florida players that are really good. Nope, no 5 stars but lots of talent overlooked down south.

Seriously. Narduzzi has the best 2 year start (record) than any coach in a long long time and he gets over scrutinized all the time. Give the guy another year or maybe two.

Again It’s unbelievable the fire and fury directed at Narduzzi to me? If he decides to cut and run it won’t be because of money or attendance it will be he can’t he a catch a break from this audience.

OK, all that said and listen up.. I get it. PITT has sucked all the way around. Another question. Why is it when someone tries to reason with this team’s performance and what’s going on, people think I’m satisfied? I’m not in the least bit.

The OSU game was horrid in the tenth degree. It was bound to happen after FOUR Offensive Coordinators in FOUR year and the coaching instability. Now some want more instability by firing coaches mid-season. Sorry, doesn’t make sense to me considering PITT’s recent past

Continuity is the key!

They say variety is the spice of life but continuity is the glue that holds our very lives together so we can enjoy that spice. . . . . .ike

If he is fully ready to go George will make a big difference. They had no one to replace the things he does. And that, in a nutshell is the problem. In addition to being talent starved, there is no depth behind the barely adequate starters.
Aside, if I can rearrange several things I will try to attend the planning event. Looks very iffy right now, but this is one event I would like to watch.

Keeps doing the same thing over and over hoping for different results. Sometimes it doesn’t take all that long to see if someone has it or not. Someone has to be held accountable, yes? Then what changes need to be made? Or is the solution to stay the course. I think if you step back you can at least admit some change is in order.

Also, if I do make it to the meeting I would start , not by bringing up the OC.s, but ask if the powers to be are satisfied with the accessibility and traffic flow and infrastructure in Oakland as well as parking, and then ask how they plan to address those. Then build on the answer. Do they have a plan to address those, and what is it. Start that way and backwards engineer. Closed minds need to be gradually opened, a frontal assault will get you shut down quick.

ike, I get it and I’m with you that Duzz needs a couple more years to show what he is made of. We needed to first get some stability in the program. But recruiting is mostly a relationship business, and the quality of recruits should be evident early on. I like the idea that he is creative and goes after 5th yr. Seniors, Jr. college players and kids tucked away in boarding school. Wherever there are good players, and I agree that some 3 stars in Florida and TX may be the equivalent of 4 stars. But there should be some Tyler Boyds showing up by now in his first couple of recruiting classes. He also needs to develop a media personality, the guy doesn’t come off well in short sound bites, which is what kids see on TV.

Sorry but I do find it kind of funny that it’s being suggested that PITT is doing the same thing over and over? PITT fired their head football coach after his last three years with the best record since Jackie. Now look at what’s happened?

A constant turnover of head coaches and coordinators. My greatest wish for this football program is that they continue to do some things over and over…. and then over again.

JK, your premise is correct when considering a constant such as our lives. That’s not college football though. College football is an ever changing world unlike you and I. Consider the first game for PITT this year.

Missing, Blair, Taleni, Bookser, Whitehead and Wirginis. << If those player were ready first game it would have definitely made a difference, you know continuity.. . .ike

See, the problem is Oakland. It is a fine area for the students. They can walk and enjoy the parks, museums and other attractions. When Phipps and the Carnegie and Forbes Field and Pitt stadium were built most of the public took the streetcars. Our idea of light rail. Then those damn automobiles were invented and became so popular. Now you have 1900 infrastructure trying to meet the demands of the modern age. But do you improve the infrastructure, noooo, you move the stadiums. Brilliant! You still have the same basic problem you had in 1950, you’ve just kicked it down the road.
Do you think that people enjoy driving anywhere in Oakland? Better yet, does anyone at Pitt even care how and if outsiders can get to the area??
In our own way we are isolated inbreds, just like the Hoopies. We do nothing to allow the public to easily share our beautiful campus, making it as difficult as possible to get to and enjoy. We really don’t leave Oakland to enjoy the rest of the city very often, so ya, I can see the disconnect between the public and the college crowd. Why should public dollars flow there?? We are in fact as inbred as the Hoopies.
Forget the OCS, what is the BOT going to do about this issue, nothing that’s what!!!. You can rationalize their behavior and say they will never build an OCS, and that is true, but to excuse their lack of foresight in bringing this school into the 21st or even the 20th century is, well, I’m just not sure what it is.
And that’s Joes soapbox for today. P2H ( backwards because we are).

Yes Ike, I have an eye appointment with that famous Pittsburgh eye doctor, Dr Checki Or. I could get his associate Dr Icheck.
I do agree with you that we are missing too many experienced players along every part of our D and it is really hurting us!

Ike, somehow you miss the point. No one is saying change coaches for changes sake. You do it when necessary. Please, tell me, do you believe Conklin will be a good D.C. In the next 4 yrs? Don’t hedge, yes or no. Do you think finishing 120ish in total D is acceptable?? What do you see changing, and please, no wishes and buts.
I guess you can hope for better talent. But have you seen an example of a player being “coached up” by Conk?? A strong AD would send a message. No one likes to be on the receiving end, but sometimes it’s needed.
You have changed OC 4 times, and tats the successful side of the ball. At this point, with this D, do you honestly have anything to loose?

I’m all for an OCS, wish it could happen in my life time
I’m not holding my breath about having an OCS
I’m all for Jim having his eyes checked.

At the risk of crossing a line here is a joke. I suppose most have already heard it.

Japanese man walks into the eye doctor explaining he’s having problems seeing. The doctor immediately diagnosis him and tells him he must have cataracts. The nice man says, oh no doctor, me have Toyrota. << Am I allowed to tell that joke or shame on me?

Well JK, I can’t say my answer is no. Sure the jury is still out. Sorry I have to hedge. Was PITT’s defense the past two years acceptable, a BIG NO!

Is firing Conklin tomorrow going be a big big help to the defense. NO! Narduzzi switching around coaches responsibilities would be the way to make changes right now if he deems it necessary.

Why in the world would PITT play the rest of this season down a coach? Hell, Conklin could stand there and keep Narduzzi from getting close to the sidelines or carry the water bottles out to the players. Firing him serves no purpose imo.. . .ke

Yeah I thought that was funny as any joke would be. Like people getting so upset over PITT losing a football game they lose all thoughts. Almost as funny as someone being getting upset over an a simple metaphor that meant nothing more.

Act like a man and speak to what it is you’re saying friend. Calling me petty? Look in the mirror. kiddo. ike

Reed – do you really think Gallagher is going to be around 15 years from now when Pitt will either need an OCS or will hitch a ride with the Steelers to a new stadium in Washington County? Of course he’s not going to be supportive of a project that will not be part of his legacy. I’m not a dolt. But you and others continue to fail when answering the question – what will Pitt do in 15 years when Heinz has outlived its life? I’m still waiting for your answer.

As I have typed a thousand times before. If your freshman and sophomores are not pushing and getting playing time from your juniors and seniors, you need to go get better recruits. It is simple. Natural selection!

UPitt… starting libations tonight in honor of you and the future MRS. UPITT.. and getting my gameface on… plane to Atlanta tomorrow.. looking forward to a great weekend… if we are losing 49-0 we need a TV feed to the wedding reception..
UPitt… you need to share a pic of the newlyweds with the POV bros and Annie… love you buddy..

OK, like Reed a month ago I figure it’s time to take a break. Sopto/RKB, who I really think is a good man that feels I’ve been insensitive and he could be right. I’ve apologized but…. I do love this place and will be back shortly……. ike . . . .. .H2P!

I will point out (again) that this is year 3. We are following the MSU trend almost exactly. We may not even win six games this year, but we will grow. If we don’t win 9 next year then it’s hot seat time for Both Narduzzi and Conklin.

The idea that Conklin could be fired and replaced with Partridge has affected me to the extent that I would not be surprised if Conklin was fired after this season. Your observation, however, is why I think Conklin will not be fired. Conklin is implementing Narduzzi’s defense and the trajectory is similar to what occurred at MSU. His top defenses did not arrive until year 4. (Although some people may be correct in assessing that Narduzzi’s schemes are better suited for the Big10 than the ACC).

Enjoy the sabbatical ike. The Pitt BoT has been on one for the past 35 years so a few days, weeks or months will be nothing. In fact, you’ve contributed more here than any BoT member has over the past 35 years. The same BoT that gave us NerdBall and CornHole. And authorized Nordenberg to give the Husker a $5M golden parachute. Gotta love those 36 incompetent worms on the BoT. Drain the BoT!

Hey! Maybe Ike has retreated to the Dark Knight’s cave where he has an unbelievable man cave with a curved 85″ high definition tv and 36″ Marshall speakers hanging down from the ceiling with the bats!
Holy Moly Pittman…..

Someone may have posted this link already but if not, it really supports the “fire conklin” argument. Apparently Pitt was in its base defense all day? I was flying from Germany so couldn’t watch (or even listen to) the game.

Emel.. we just don’t look like a good football team should look! I love watching college ball – watch any other game they( both combatants) seem to play faster, good tackling, run harder, dread the ball around and crowd noise. Last year we were on the cusp of changing this perception but no D whatsoever, huuuuge let down against NW and we continue in our familiar position of irreverence and all of its tapestry. So sad…no management.. we are the Cleveland Browns of Power 5 Football… Temple, Rutgers and Maryland probably are more committed to not embarrassing themselves than we are.

Atlanta, do you think it was the DCs decision to stay in the base defense all game, or, was it the HC that made that decision? I like coach Narduzzi, and want him to be our HC for a long time, but this terrible, even historically bad, defense is 100% his responsibility, not his DC and not his players. Unfortunately, if he does not improve our defense by next season, I think he will be gone.

It’s kinda funny what is coming out of Nebraska, search firm and Barry Alverezs involvement with formed AD. Barry has his fingers in everything! You don’t think the search firm could be the same one and recommend………. naw, ?????

FWIW, I think Barry Alvarez is one of the most astute ADs around. He knows exactly what he wants and what has been successful at Wisconsin, and he hires accordingly. Chryst was the perfect fit for the program due in large part because he is an Alvarez protege. Plus PC realizes what he has there and will not rebel against the AD for being too meddlesome. Heck, when PC arrived back in 2015, he already had a first-rate DC waiting for him.

And his men’s basketball program has done pretty darn good under BA also … thank you.

Alvarez arrived at Wisconsin in 1990 and turned that program that hadn’t had a winning program since ’84 into a consistent winner. Can we dream of what if the Pitt admin would have had the foresight to hire WPa native Alvarez instead of hiring Paul Hackett?

Of course, Alvarez only won 11 games in his first 3 seasons before a 10-1-1 season and Rose Bowl appearance in 1993… and we Pitt fans would have never stood for that